It's rape, insists Goa Police; Tarun Tejpal says consensual

ET Bureau|

Nov 23, 2013, 07.09 AM IST

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NEW DELHI: Goa Police on Friday charged former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal with rape even as Tejpal broke his silence and began to defend himself against a Tehelka journalist's charge of sexual assault.

Tejpal, who has engaged the services of high-profile lawyer Raian Karanjawala and his firm, told ET via an emailed reply that what happened in the Goa hotel elevator was "consensual", "fleeting" and "lasted less than a minute". He also said "it happened only once".

Persons close to the complainant's family told ET that lawyers were being consulted and the family did not wish to comment any more on the matter at this stage.

A unit from the crime branch of Goa Police has started for Delhi. Goa Police officials told ET that Tejpal will be questioned in Delhi, and an arrest and taking Tejpal to Goa for further questioning are not being ruled out.

Karanjawala told ET Tejpal is consulting him and his firm. He said Tejpal's defence strategy will be seen in the court.

The Tehelka journalist whose compla-int led Tejpal earlier to "recuse" himself from editorship for six months had said Tejpal's alleged sexual assault on her happened twice. Tejpal's account given out on Friday sharply differs from the complainant's account.

No CCTVs in Hotel Elevators: Manager

In a public statement issued earlier, Tejpal had said the police should "examine and release the CCTV footage so that accurate version of events stands clearly revealed".

A senior manager of Grand Hyatt, Goa, whom ET spoke to, said there are no CCTVs inside hotel elevators. Lobbies have CCTVs. This manager said he did not wish to be identified. Grand Hyatt, Goa, officially said the hotel is offering full cooperation to the police.

In a text message giving out his version of the events that Tejpal sent to close friends, he also said he has stepped down from editorship on "Shoma's feminist insistence" and "in my desire to preserve the girl's dignity". Shoma Chaudhury is managing editor of Tehelka, and she has been at the centre of another controversy - over whether she had done everything that was possible for the complainant.

Chaudhury told the media during the course of several interviews that since the case was now in public domain, Tejpal had the right to defend himself. She said if the complainant's version was proved to be correct, she would call what happened in Goa rape or attempted rape.

But Chaudhury also said it was unfair to accuse Tejpal of rape at this stage. She was particularly critical of BJP leader Arun Jaitley's statement on Thursday. She said Jaitley as a noted lawyer should have refrained from taking a "such a strong stand".

A sharp divide between BJP and Congress over Tejpal controversy became more apparent on Friday. BJP continued its critique of Tejpal, while Congress was notably quiet.

Goa's BJP Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said "it was clear Tejpal was the culprit". He also said he has told Goa Police to deal with matter with "an iron hand".

BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said Tejpal "was a Congress supporter and Congress is embarrassed". Congress leaders maintained silence for the most part.

Tehelka shot into prominence with a 2001 sting on the then NDA government and BJP leaders. The sting had footage of NDA leaders willing to facilitate arms deals in return for cash. Tehelka also did sting operations on the 2002 Gujarat riots case.